As I continue to do my own homework on why I feel the way I do, and how long I have repressed it, as I get closer to my therapy date for the first time, I found two interesting links that specifically talk about GID as a mental disorder and the stigma, denial of civil rights, etc. of trans people.
These links are below:
http://www.thehastingscenter.org/Bioethicsforum/Post.aspx?id=3602 http://www.gidreform.org/Since I have multiple issues to tackle besides working with the yet undiagnosed GID, transition, and related items, I am seeing a therapist who may or may not be trans / LGBT friendly. I DO know that the medical center the therapist works at has received awards for work in the LGBT/Trans field.
Should I have specifically sought out a therapist that deals solely with Trans issues, or do I go in there and expect the therapist to deal with each issue based on severity and priority of each issue, and expect the therapist to refer me over to an endocrinologist and other Trans relevant services?
I am aware that some advancements in protections of Trans people in the U.S. have been made, and I know that the information at the links I posted is pretty much on the same page as the other and that the one link at the Hastings Center bio forum gives some suggestions on GID reform in the DSM. My question here is this: in THIS current day and age, will a diagnosis of GID mean that I get treated like I am incapable and what are my possibilities in today's world of having the clinical nightmare experience that some have had in the past with mistreatment and so on?
Have today's clinicians become more enlightened on LGBT/Trans issues? As I read these forums in most categories, I see many people seem happy with their therapists and doctors, but I also know we all live in different places in the world. I know the place in the world where you live can make a difference, and in each place the local geography differs region by region when it comes to acceptance by professionals and community.
Luckily, I live in a state where Gender Identity and sexual orientation are a protected status as far as housing, employment, access to public buildings, public services, etc. is concerned. Are there questions I should ask the therapist before I "come out" to ensure the therapist can handle my case and ensure the therapist doesn't have any pre-conceptions, religious problems with LGBT/Trans, or other biases?
I have past experience with mental health providers who had their own archaic mind set and biases when it comes to people with mental illness in general, and some of them were people who were out to make a political name for themselves due to their connections and personal ambitions. So far, I have been falsely diagnosed with bipolar, personality disorder, and a long list of other things that would be impossible for someone to have all at one time. Perhaps some of this was just a few of these clinicians not having enough skill to diagnose properly or those who had problems picking information apart, and perhaps some of it was pure laziness coupled with a desire to find the fastest way to an insurance payment. (Pardon me patiently, please, as I am sort of freethinking at the moment)
In short, the mental health community I trusted to help stabilize me was the same community who wreaked havoc on my life at times because of their ineptitude, and willingness to let their personal beliefs and opinions to become part of their work.
I still plan on going in with an open mind, but needed to get some of these questions and thoughts out here. I am hoping to find relief for myself in the relationship with this therapist, and am going in with the intention and thought that the therapist will be professional, knowledgeable, intelligent, and compassionate.
